The manager of FC Seoul has slammed Jesse Lingard for his lack of effort this season – claiming the forward ‘doesn’t fight and doesn’t run’.
The 31-year-old completed a surprise move to the South Korean club in February after being released from his Nottingham Forest contract at the end of last season.
He has so far endured a difficult time, with Seoul winning just one match from their opening four of the new K-League campaign.
And manager Kim Ki-dong says he’s not happy with Lingard due to a lack of effort from the former Manchester United forward.
‘I’ve been thinking a lot about removing Jesse (Lingard). I don’t think a player who doesn’t run for a few minutes is a football player,’ Ki-dong said.
The manager of FC seoul has slammed Jesse Lingard for his lack of effort this season
Kim Gi-dong questioned the winger’s work rate and says he has considered dropping him
‘If he doesn’t fight, and doesn’t run better than the player who runs for 90 minutes? If you’re going to play soccer in the name, shouldn’t you just take the retired players?’
Ki-dong’s latest comments come just a fortnight after he first criticised Lingard’s work-rate following Seoul’s win against Jeju.
Lingard has been a regular substitute as he continues to build up his fitness having not played competitively for over six months prior to the move
He failed to make the bench as Seoul continued their poor start to the season in a 1-1 draw with Gangwon on Sunday.
Mail Sport understands the former England international has sustained a meniscus issue in a setback that will come as a big blow to him.
The niggle is not said to be a serious problem, but it may be that FC Seoul medics decide to rest Lingard for a fortnight to ensure the injury does not worsen.
